Chapter 16
Adora
“Mmm. My God, that feels good,” I moan as Xai works magic on my feet.
“You keep sounding like that and I’m going to rub something else,” he says, then nods.
“It’s your hands. While I’m well aware that they are divine, I didn’t know they would be this divine on my feet too. Mm.”
The Music Festival was every-freaking-thing.
So many artists performed and Yara even premiered two new tracks from her upcoming album.
Kandi and I sang along and rapped with damn near everybody.
Between standing, singing and rapping, meeting Sol, Yara, and a new rapper named Fyre, and drinking three lemon drops, my voice is half gone and my feet are screaming.
We left around eight, in the middle of the last performer, to avoid some of that traffic.
Thankfully the VIP parking lot had a seamless, non-convoluted exit and we got out quickly.
Because we had breakfast before the festival and indulged in seafood nachos and po’boys there, neither of us was hungry.
We came straight back to his house. While he showered, I took a bath, soaked my feet, and talked to Kandi.
We had to be messy for a minute because some of those outfits today had been a hot ass mess.
I also had to get her honest thoughts on Xai.
He fits so well with my girls and they are crazy about him.
When I checked on them, they both insisted on talking to him too.
That made my entire heart smile. He considers them in everything we do, and because he knows they are my everything, he doesn’t try to monopolize my time.
Instead, he’s considerate and patient. Every day, I find myself falling for this man, and even though I know my feelings are real, Kandi’s opinion carries weight.
I was beyond excited when I got her stamp of approval.
It was just four words, but it was just what I needed. “Bitch, I love him.”
As his knuckles skillfully knead my arch, he asks, “You sure you’re not hungry?”
“Positive. After this massage, I just want to crawl under this cover, climb on you, and relax until I fall asleep.”
“Can I rub your ass while you’re on me?” he asks and I just laugh.
“You can rub all of me,” I admit.
For another fifteen glorious minutes, he treats my feet, and by the time he’s done, they feel brand new.
We both ease off his bed. While he grabs a bottle of water for me and an Energized Sports for himself, I turn down the bed and slide in.
I also turn on the TV and find the movie we didn’t watch last night.
“Damn,” he says, standing at the door.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Ain’t shit wrong. It’s all right. Seeing you waiting in my bed for me just hit.”
He steps toward the bed, leans in, and kisses my breath away.
Then he hands me my water and joins me in bed.
True to his word, he rubs my ass, hips, and back as we watch the movie and eventually fade to sleep.
A few hours later, the back-to-back chiming of his doorbell and excessive banging on his door jars us from our sleep.
“The fuck?” he groans groggily as he reaches for his phone. He opens it and looks at the front door cameras. “Peaches? What the fuck?” He eases up and out of the bed. “That’s Kadean’s girl. Let me get it,” he says and I sit up. “Nah, you stay here. Sleep. I got her.”
He walks to his armoire and grabs a pair of sweats. He pulls them over his boxers then storms out of the room. My curiosity is greater than most. Basically, I’m nosy as hell. I get up, grab a shirt out of his armoire, then tiptoe to the theater room to eavesdrop. Its openness makes it easier.
“What’s up, Peaches?” he asks, a little annoyance in his baritone.
“I’ve been blowing you up!” she yells. Her voice sounds frantic and on the verge of tears.
“What’s wrong?’ he repeats, more calmly this time.
“Kadean was arrested and he’s trying to call you.”
“What! Arrested!” his voice booms and echoes off the walls, almost startling me.
“What’s wrong with your phone?” she cries.
“It was on… Ay, that doesn’t matter. What do you mean he got arrested? When? For what?”
“I don’t know everything. He’s about to call again so he can talk to you. This is his last call. That’s why I came over here. I don’t know. He’s in Florida and in jail. That’s all he’s told me,” she rambles.
“Florida!” Xai booms and I swear I feel it.
“Yeah,” she begins but her phone rings. “It’s him again.”
She answers on speaker because the next thing I hear is a recording stating it’s a collect call from an inmate in Polk County jail. She presses a button and a male voice barks, “Did you get him to answer?”
“Yeah. I’m at his hou—” she begins but Xai interrupts.
“What the fuck happened? Florida? Were you driving? What?” Xai fires off and I release a heavy sigh.
“Dutch asked me to ride with him to pick up the box truck he bought,” Kadean starts.
“I should have known it was that clown,” Xai says and Kadean doesn’t comment. He just keeps going.
“We got it. He was tired driving back, so shit, we didn’t want to stop, so I drove. We got pulled over and they say the truck was stolen. It wasn’t though.”
“I bet,” Xai grunts.
“It wasn’t but they got me for no license.”
“Were you drinking?” Xai asks.
“No! Damn!” Kadean yells. “Just that and I need you to get me out. It’s five thousand for driving and the truck is six but they are requiring collateral too since I’m out of state. It’s habitual and they are both felonies. These crackers trying to fuck me over.”
“You fucked yourself over. Dutch and driving. What did you think was going to happen?”
“Bruh, I don’t need one of your lectures right now. Just get me out. I can’t stay in this shit. I ain’t ate or taken a fucking shit since they got me last night.”
“I’m not getting you out, Kadean,” Xai declares and both Kadean and Peaches yell dramatically.
“What!”
“I’m not getting you out,” he confirms. “What collateral do you have?”
“My fucking motorcycle,” Kadean barks.
“You don’t own that damn motorcycle; you’re making payments on that.”
“Man, I can’t stay here and you know it. Eleven stacks ain’t gon’ break you. Put the townhouse or the shop up. I’m going to come back and make it to court. You act like I ain’t. Xai, this ain’t the time to try and teach me no fucking lesson. Just get me out,” he pleads.
My mouth is on the floor. The dynamic between them is suffocating the room. There’s anger, entitlement, and fear in Kadean’s words and disappointment and tough love in Xai’s. I’m holding my breath awaiting Xai’s response, so I know Peaches has to be a mess.
“I can’t. Not this time. I can’t depend on you to come to work on time; I’m definitely not risking my business or home on you showing up to court.”
“Nigga, what?” Kadean yells and I hear his voice crack. Peaches sobs audibly.
“I’m not,” Xai says sternly. “Maybe this is what you need.”
“I’m pregnant,” Peaches cries, but Xai continues to speak to Kadean.
“Every time you fuck up, I bail you out. I fix it but it doesn’t help. You keep doing dumb shit. This time you have to learn and face the consequences of what you’ve done.”
“Fuck that! You ain’t face yo’ fucking consequences. Yeah, I said it. You killed my fucking momma.”
Wait, what! What did he say?
“What consequences did you face? Huh? You can miss me with preaching shit right now because we both kn—” he says then the phone goes silent.
“They cut it off,” Peaches cries. “What’s wrong with you?” she yells.
“Ay. Keep your hands to yourself,” he grits and I get up. “You need to go home, Peaches.”
“What’s wrong—” she cries again, but he cuts her off.
“Just go home,” Xai repeats as I descend the stairs. I watch as he holds her hand and coaxes her to the door. She snatches from his grip, glares at him, then up at me. Even with her puffy red eyes and scowl, I can see she’s a pretty girl. “You’re dead ass wrong,” she spits before opening the door.
Peaches walks out and he closes the door. Actually, he slams it then pounds his fists against it after. I ease down and amble toward him but stop when I hear him yell.
“Fuck!” he grits then pounds the door again. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” he repeats and I hear the agony in his heavy voice.
I have so many questions, so many, but at this moment, his moment of apparent pain, I just want him to know he’s not alone. I’m here for him. The happiness and comfort he’s brought to my life are immeasurable. He brought light to my life when I felt stuck in darkness and grief.
Gingerly, from behind, I slip my arms around him and rest my head on his back.
I don’t speak. I don’t utter a word. I’m merely present, willing and ready to be or do whatever he needs.
He lets out a sigh so heavy and laced with pain that my heart aches for him.
Then he grabs my hands, covers them with his, and holds them close to his chest. For I don’t know how long, we stay muted and still like this, with me trying to pour all I have into him.
“Ay. Let’s go back up,” he says, breaking the silence.
His hands drop mine and he turns to face me.
My heart actually breaks at the sight. Although his face looks vacant, there’s a flicker of sadness in his eyes.
His lips are downturned with an imperceptible tightening around his mouth.
He’s hurting and we are not going back to sleep as long as he’s in this state.
“After we talk about what just happened,” I insist in a soft tone.
“You’re tired. Let’s just go upstairs,” he says, deflecting.
“If that’s where you want to be, I’ll go upstairs, but I’m not going to be able to sleep with your face looking like this.
” I raise my hands to his sorrowful face and caress it.
“Baby, please talk to me,” I say and he closes his eyes.
He grabs my right hand, brings it to his lips, and pecks it. “Let’s go,” I tell him.